Venezuelan Artists Speak Out

"Yes, the US invasion of Venezuela and the abduction of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, are all about seizing the country's oil reserves, the largest in the world. However, for many Venezuelans who had suffered under Maduro's autocratic regime, it's not so black and white. Today, we hear from five Venezuelan artists and cultural workers about their nuanced feelings in this historic moment. Their responses are raw, complex, and worth your time."

"Happy Armenian Christmas to our readers who celebrate. Remember the days when some of us had to actually convince people that American imperialist adventures like the Iraq War were more about stealing the country's oil than "promoting democracy"? Who needs any convincing now when the American president makes no effort to hide his real intentions?"

A holiday greeting acknowledges Armenian Christmas and recalls past debates over US interventions like the Iraq War. US invasion of Venezuela and the abduction of Nicolás Maduro are portrayed as efforts to seize the country's vast oil reserves. Many Venezuelans who suffered under Maduro's autocratic regime hold ambiguous, nuanced views. Five Venezuelan artists and cultural workers — Javier Téllez, Jeffly Gabriela Molina, Vero Bello, Cassandra Mayela, and Silvia Benedetti — witnessed bombings in Caracas and offer raw, complex responses. Paris police arrested a suspect accused of stealing Joan of Arc's sword; the suspect will undergo a behavioral assessment. Recommended exhibitions spotlight Olga de Amaral, Marianne Vitale, Marina Stern, seven Indigenous women artists, Joyce Kozloff, Nina Katchadourian, Linda Mussmann, and Michael McGrath.

Read at Hyperallergic